Peace Works Travel
Students As Global Citizens
Prepare for a journey of learning, discovery, and connection.
For teachers
Teachers Travel Free
Travel For Free With Your Students
Become a part of a life-changing experience that not only strengthens the bond between student and teacher, but also narrows the gap between local and global awareness. Our educational student travel programs are different. Peace Works Travel offers socially-conscious education abroad in countries healing from history. How do we teach young people about the complex issues surrounding war and peace? We believe in radical empathy: experiential learning without violence inspires ethical citizenship. Students acquire skills for transforming awareness of the world into opportunities for positive change. Our travelers learn what happened, how to make better choices, and how to innovate solutions for the future. Our programs teach the human, environmental, economic consequences of conflict—and the riches of peace. As a teacher traveling abroad, we invite you to discover just how far your lessons can reach with this opportunity of free travel for teachers.
Lead Life Lessons:
Give your students the opportunity to innovate solutions to global issues through meaningful educational travel. We provide cultural and historical curriculum for each destination to ensure your travelers are knowledgeable in advance of arrival. Teachers may choose academic areas of emphasis from our travel program themes. Each trip includes the opportunity to connect electronically with local students you will meet in your destination. Our connectivity with the nation’s locals begins pre-departure, creates meaningful insider’s experiences during travel, and fosters positive action upon re-entry home.
Tangible Impact
Our student travelers return knowledgeable and impassioned to innovate change. Inspired by their expanded awareness and confident in their capacity to make a difference, our travelers have created socially-minded enterprises on their own volition: compelling documentary films, issue-based community-organizing, NGO fundraising campaigns, and non-profit development. Check out our student videos of exceptional student projects.
Let’s Make Peace Work Together
We each have a role in our work for a better world. As an educator, your focus is to connect with your students. Our work is to support your educational teacher travel experience with logistics, curriculum, registration, and risk management. Your group will enjoy a dedicated portal on our website for easy document management and communications. We deliver chaperone binders with all your group travel information within 30 days of departure. Click on the Referral Opportunities tab above to learn more about free travel opportunities for teachers.
How It Works
Choose from our insider’s programs in nations healing from history on dates that work for you. We help you select the best itinerary for your curricular vision. All-inclusive pricing is clear and reliable — and teachers travel free! We build your itinerary, provide a detailed budget, and support your administrative approval process. Calendar and deadlines are managed easily on your dedicated web portal. We secure the best available group flights from your preferred gateway city. Need suggestions? Want to customize? Interested in free travel for teachers? We’d be delighted to speak with you.
Recruiting student travelers is easy with the videos, flyers, and marketing support we provide. Enroll eight students and your spot is secured for your free teacher travel. For every six additional travelers, a free co-chaperone is included. Your dedicated website portal makes it easy to direct inquiring students and families to a no-hassle registration. Whether you’re working through your school’s student travel abroad office or organizing this adventure on your own, we make it easy for parents to feel confident about our educational student travel opportunities.
PRE DEPARTURE
Once enrolled, student travelers and their parents have access to their own web portal and personal service for account questions. Billing, cancellation policies, enrollment parameters, travel insurance and flights: our account specialists handle the paperwork.
ON THE TRIP
A local Peace Works Host Manager travels with your group 24/7, facilitating daily activities so you can enjoy the discovery worry-free. All travel logistics are confirmed with your values in mind, clearly detailed and organized for maximum impact. Our educational travel programs offer controlled spontaneity: very little is left to chance. In the case of an urgent issue, comprehensive emergency services are provided to support your group at all times. All trip leaders receive generous stipends to recognize the time, care, and dedication you invest in your students’ travel experience.
COMING HOME
Students celebrate their learning by showcasing their engagement. We connect “global to local” citizenship through a student-activist tool kit. Travelers understand how to transform their learning into practical action and make a difference in the world. How to write press-releases, host video screenings, and launch awareness-raising campaigns? Students return energized to apply their learning in tangible ways. Our network of peace-builders are models for amplifying your positive work beyond the travel program.
Explore iconic destinations, travel responsibly for mutual prosperity, and become informed, ethical citizens of a global community.
For parents
Our Trips Change Lives
For The Better, Our Trips Change Lives
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, narrow-mindedness and bigotry.” – Mark Twain
Students return home with expanded consciousness, energized by their power to understand, work cooperatively, and make a difference in the world. How? We synthesize history and cultural learning, friendships with courageous people living with purpose, and project-based activities that build global citizenship skills. Young people are naturally compassionate; we give them a reason to engage, and the tools for successful impact. Our robust network of local friends are survivors, entrepreneurs, teachers, authors, activists and journalists. Our programs unite travelers with local heroes working for social good. They connect the threads of human experience over time – the intersection between ancient traditions and modern culture – and inspire us to a deeper curiosity. Why do wars start? What happens to people caught in the middle? In what ways can we accelerate the healing process and apply preventative measures for the future? Students are moved to a profound state of inquiry and action, benefiting their communities as a lifelong habit of mind.
How It Works
Applying is easy. If your child is traveling with a school program, select the location on the Destinations page, scroll down and click “Take Me to Registration.” Select your school program and create an account.
If your child is applying as an Independent Traveler on a Peace Works Program, select the location on the Destinations page, scroll down and click “Take Me to Registration.” Select the preferred program and create an account. Rolling admissions will notify applicants of acceptance within 10 days of submission.
Want to plan a customized trip for your family, community group or school? Contact us. What themes would you like to explore in which destination? Want to discuss the options? Call us (805)685-8687.
Essential information, history curriculum and communications are easily managed through your program account web portal. Download course materials, packing lists, travel insurance policies, digital media equipment suggestions, CDC recommendations, and required documents with ease. All-inclusive planning ensures that no unforeseen expenses or concerns catch you by surprise. Our experienced team supports you every step of the way.
PRE DEPARTURE
We prepare our travelers to embrace the opportunity of traveling through living history. Intelligent preparations are at your fingertips on each program’s customized web portal. We take pride in ensuring our travelers are knowledgeable guests. Once enrolled, travelers have access to online course curriculum about the history and culture of the destination.
ON THE TRIP
As teachers and parents, our commitment to your kids is profound. Strong organization, thoughtful execution and robust support. We foster healthy group nurturance, prioritizing travelers’ emotional and physical well-being throughout the program. Daily activities are designed with best practices for risk management and fun experiential learning in balance. Program leaders carry international cell phones in case of emergency. Communications are reasonably managed so parents can relax, check the daily blog and allow the students to “be present” with the traveling experience without “helicoptering” from home.
COMING HOME
Students return from our adventures with a heightened consciousness, appreciative of their lives and committed to making the most of their new skills for the greater good. We help teachers showcase what your children have learned with photo exhibits, interviews, video screenings, and fundraising events. Our network of change-makers has helped countless students embrace the opportunity to shine around the world.
For students
The Experience of a Lifetime
Discoveries Matter
Know that your travels make a difference. Understand what happened, how people survive unthinkable challenges and learn strategies for positive change. Celebrate the journey from conflict to contentment through meaningful explorations behind the scenes of the world’s most enigmatic nations. Each day introduces travelers to exciting revelations. Climb ancient temples, hike a volcano, savor extraordinary cuisine, boat in floating markets, support handicraft markets, take dancing lessons with activists, veterans, artists, and local heroes. Our adventures expand your consciousness, teach you to innovate fresh solutions to global issues—while having the time of your life.
How It Works
Where do you want to go? Our travelers experience incredible nations and acquire lifelong skills of engaged global citizenship. Travel with your own teachers on a school program, or join a group of independent travelers on a Peace Works Program. Our 24/7 Host Managers guide our groups with the integrity of family care. Our NGO (Non-governmental Organization) partners provide the context for service-learning, digital storytelling and social entrepreneurship activities. Choose among the destinations and program themes that speak to your heart.
What kind of traveler are you? Traveling with a group from a public or private school? Or as an Independent Traveler on a Peace Works Program? Follow the enrollment directions which apply to you:
Traveling with a Public School
Go to the Destinations Homepage and select your school trip destination. Scroll down the destination page, and select ‘Take Me to Registration’. Select your school’s program from the menu and create your account. Once your application is received, you will be invoiced for the $800.00 deposit ($300 is non-refundable). Acceptance of the deposit secures your registration, and grants access to all pre-departure resources.
Traveling with a Private School
Follow the registration procedures and payments of your school’s guidelines. Upon acceptance, you will be sent a registration link inviting you to create an account with Peace Works. Submit the application with all required documents. Upon receipt, you will have access to all pre-departure resources.
Independent Traveler on a Peace Works Program
Once you’ve chosen a destination, click the ‘Take Me to Registration’ button and select the program of your choice. Complete the required materials, and submit your application for review. You will be notified of your enrollment status within 10 days of your submission. Upon acceptance, you will be invoiced for the $800.00 deposit ($300 is non-refundable). Acceptance of the deposit secures your registration, and grants access to all pre-departure resources.
PRE DEPARTURE
Learn about your destination and its historical significance with online learning at your convenience. Our destination course materials are easily downloaded from your account portal. Get interested: how does the destination relate to your home community? Do you know any U.S. veterans who once served there? Are you familiar with any refugees from the nation you’ll soon explore? Consider the many connections which link your life to the places on your horizon. Trip preparations and group communications are easily managed through your group account and website portal. Our team is available to assist you prepare intelligently for your adventure.
ON THE TRIP
We’re friendly and firm: Fun and focused. Your Host Manager will confirm daily expectations in a group briefing the prior evening. Breakfast is served on site in plenty of time to organize for your day: sunscreen, hat, water bottle, and camera! Lunch and dinner restaurants are selected for their delicious, authentic food and sustainable business models.
Daily Amazement: Each excursion and activity celebrates human ingenuity: we connect with notable locals for insider’s experiences revealing the magic of each culture. Whether you’re learning to cook ancient recipes, crawling underground through a Vietcong tunnel, hanging out with your pen-pal, or journal writing on the shoreline, each day is balanced with joyful activity and structured reflection.
Heads and Hearts: We use our hearts to open our minds. We use our heads to be present each moment. You’ll need to behave responsibly and follow the rules. Health and safety are the number one priority. Our team attends to your well-being, acting in loco parentis (Look it up!) We require positive engagement from all travelers. You’ll forge friendships which will inspire you forever – and energize your determination to Be.The.Change.
COMING HOME
It’s not just a trip, it’s a transformation. Our peace-building toolkit teaches you how to engage as effective citizens. Write press-releases, host video screenings, or conduct fundraising-events supporting a cause close to home. Connect with other students, generate ideas and make your vision a model for others. Share your projects with us. We love to celebrate our travelers’ good works.
In our travelers’ words
Teachers, parents, and students share their experiences.
Loomis Chaffee students had an extraordinary experience with Peace Works in Washington, D.C. We love how Peace Works connects students to the insider's opportunities that make our democracy really come alive for teens.
Thank you for your great work in attending to all the variables of our student culture, social-emotional wellness, and diverse traveling groups. Peace Works is on the cutting edge of ethical student travel.
I’ve participated in three amazing and unique Peace Works Travel programs. When Peace Works educates its students, it piques the students’ intellectual curiosity rather than teaching in a forced way that school would. The most impactful part of my experience was meeting the local people of a given destination and learning about situations so different than what we know or what we see in the news.
Vietnam was a name I had grown up hearing. When my school announced the spring trip, I knew I had to go. It was the best experience of my entire life.
It was an amazing experience for the kids and it was so profoundly different from anything they had ever done. For my students, it was really powerful. All the things in the itinerary came about because of who the host manager is in the community. She gave us the lay of the land. It's very clear that she's a teacher. She's got that magnetic twinkle in her eye. From a safety and security standpoint, I felt confident, because there's absolutely no one that knows that community as well as our host manager does. All the interactions that the kids had with children, veterans and at the church service were meaningful.
Volunteering at the Peace Village was life-changing for my students. I am forever grateful for this experience.
Our students asked such great questions that integrated their thinking on policies and personalities. It’s clear they are connecting the various stories of Vietnam together in a more comprehensive picture of the war.
My most recent travel experience with Peace Works Travel (PWT) was in Rwanda. It was so very enriching and fulfilling. Each and every day afforded another opportunity for us to meet and interact with regular Rwandan people across a spectrum of class, gender, geography, and life experience, from national leaders to local leaders, grassroot organizers to social entrepreneurs, filmmakers to visual artists, teachers, students, dancers and drummers. PWT connected us with so many interesting local people and perspectives. I could not be more thankful to Peace Works Travel to have had this experience to have been able to share it with students.
For Amy, this trip was nothing short of life-changing. A million thanks to you and the staff of Peace Works Travel for arranging this wonderful, fantastic, amazing opportunity. Every teenager should do this at least once during high school.
After visiting the Killing Fields, we restored our hope with a volunteer project teaching English to kids. I understood how humans can heal from tragedy: We must all invest in the hopes of a new generation.
Where will your curiosity take you?
Bring your questions, your students, and your ideas. Let’s plan the next step together.